Playing the game of basketball tends to come with plenty of emotions. Those can be very relaxed emotions that don't take much to please or make you happy. Simply being in the NBA after the long journey you may have embarked upon is pleasing alone. The struggle may have been real for an individual and their family. However, getting that first contract puts them in a satisfied position in life.
Tyronn Lue says that tonight will be a good challenge for a Clippers team that knows their players and their rotation, while adding that PJ Tucker and Bones Hyland came back with "great attitudes, understanding that they're going to be here"
— Law Murray 🧭 (@LawMurrayTheNU) February 23, 2024
No rotation changes expected. pic.twitter.com/LkD9AsIOhd
On the other hand, you may have an individual who may not have a relaxed attitude and may very well be full of emotions. Those players tend to speak their minds a lot. While they may voice their opinions, they still are great leaders and role models despite them causing a fuss from time to time. When they do so, it simply shows how emotionally involved they may be in the situation. That attitude shows passion for the craft and love for the game.
PJ Tucker fell out of the rotation of the LA Clippers after being traded there. Head Coach Ty Lue simply didn't want to play him. This felt like the wrong move for Ty Lue. PJ Tucker is a player that contributes to winning. He's a player who is willing to take one for the team and do whatever he can to help win games too. PJ Tucker is a player that doesn't have an ego as he has had multiple games of starting and failing to score a single point in his NBA Career.
The best ways to utilize PJ Tucker
Tucker has finally gotten back into the rotation. Now that he is back, he must figure out a way to stay in it to help this team win. Here are three ways the LA Clippers can and should utilize PJ Tucker to help them have continued success this season.
1. Fouls
There are times in the NBA when you may have to play against a really good player who tends to have their way with you. Nothing you do defensively seems to work. You may think of someone like Shaquille O'Neal from back in the day. If you want to think of this era, the player that may come to mind is Ben Simmons. Enforcing the hack-a-shaq or hack-a-ben strategy may be the thing that gets you over the hump in that game.
2. Small Ball Lineup
Playing small in this era of basketball typically gives you the advantage offensively nowadays. There isn't much defense being played in the NBA these days. Scoring is at an all-time high at this point and the goal is focused on scoring rather than defending at a high level. We have seen the Golden State Warriors experience a lot of success when playing a smaller lineup. The Clippers could use Tucker in that way too. He would have the advantage of a big man defending him on the perimeter. That space for the open three could lead to a bucket there or even beating his defender off the dribble.
Lance Stephenson reveals why he blew in LeBron James' ear: "Just playing hard, man. We were trying to win a Championship playing hard against one of the greatest players to ever play basketball, so you know I brung it all. I brought the New York out and trying my best to stop… https://t.co/3hGVIhdeQp pic.twitter.com/ZmqsaH77y4
— 👑 Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson (@ScoopB) July 28, 2023
3. Pestering Defender
We are just in the first week after the all-star break and we have already seen a lot of games get chippy this week! The intensity will only increase as we get closer to the playoffs. One tactic the Clippers could use Tucker in is a role that will pester the opposing team's star. We have seen it with Lance Stephenson during Lebron James's reign. Tucker could be used similarly to get in the head of those superstars the Clippers may run into. That could force them into having a bad game or even being ejected.